Committee Members Sought to Select New Career Center Director

February 22, 2012

By

Christopher Roy

Rick Geisel and Richard Cartee at the North Country School Board meeting. Photo by Christopher Roy

NEWPORT CITY â€“ The North Country Union High School Board has started the process of finding a new director for North Country Career Center.
Director Richard Hoffman handed in his resignation to the Human Resources Committee last week. The full board approved it at the Tuesday meeting. Hoffman will continue to serve the career center until June 30.
Board Member Rick Geisel of Derby spoke highly of Hoffmanâ€™s effort, along with support from Principal Bill Rivard, who said Hoffman had brought the career center to a higher level. Hands on opportunities like the ones provided at the technical center are important, Geisel said.
Hoffman told the school board that he is looking for the right opportunity but would like to remain in the Northeast Kingdom.
Grant Spates of Derby will head the search committee. The list of committee members presented to the school board includes school officials, Regional Advisory Board Members, business leaders and area school board members.
Board Member Richard Cartee of Newport said the list is good, but suggested that it also include community members.
Some people on the list were most likely there because they represent members of the business community, Geisel said.
In the end, the board added two members from the general community.
The school board also hired Tim Simoneau as the varsity football coach for the 2012-2013 season. Simoneau, according to Geisel, was the defensive coordinator for former coach Bob Davis. Geisel said Simoneau has been with the program a long time. Simoneau was one of three candidates in line for the job.
Earlier in the meeting, discussion briefly turned to Town Meeting Day. Richard Nelson of Derby told Geisel that Geisel would have to represent that board because Nelson would be moderating the meeting. Nelson said he would call upon Geisel to explain how North Country is one of the lowest cost per student schools while Burlington is committing â€śfiscal suicide.â€ť
North Country Union High Schoolâ€™s annual meeting will be held at the career center on Monday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m.